Improvement in bridles



3 Sheets--Sheetl.

W. S. MITCHELL Bridles. NO. 158,857. I Patentedjan.l9,l875.

3 Sheets-- Sheet 2.

W. S. MITCHELL Bridles.

Patented Jan. 19, 1875.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

WILLIAM S. MITCHELL, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRIDLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 58,857, dated January 19, 1875; application filed January 7, 1875.

the check-rein or driving-reins ot' a harness,

by which the position of the animals head may be controlled and adjusted; and it consists in the adaptation of a lever, singly or in duplicate, between the driving bit and reins,

- or check-rein, in such manner as to cause the animal to elevate or extend his nose, as contradistinguished from the usual effect of pulling it downward and'rearward. I

It is well known among those accustomed to the training and management of horses that with what is known as a hard-mouthed animal a severe curb-bit is commonly used. This is calculated to bring the head down until the lower jaw is in contact with the throat 'or breast, in which position the lever of such bit has been brought to nearly a straight line, or a continuation of the reins, when the punishment or control designed to be exerted is lost.

Believing that an animals mouth is always of such tenderness as to render him perfectly controllable, provided his jaws are maintained in a position to be acted on by the tension of the reins, I have devised a means of controlling such position, so that he cannot become master. of the power applied.

To accomplish this end various modifications of my invention may be adopted, all operating substantially in the same manner and producing the same effect.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the'head-strap; B, the forehead-band; C, the bit; D, the driving-reins; E,the checkrein; G, a lever, and H its fulcrum.

The peculiarity of my invention lies in the application of a lever having its fulcrum on the horses nose, and operating it by the driving-reins or check-rein, in such manner as to cause him to extend his nose instead of drawing it inwardly, as effected by any bit'heretofore used.

connected with the levers G on each side of the animals head, passing over his nose, the position of the levers being such as to elevate the rein slightly, by which, when tension is applied to the latter, the upper end of the levers G will be depressed, and the nose must necessarily be extended. The desired amount of such extension may be governed by adjusting the length of the band H.

Fig. 2 shows a similar device applied to the check-rein, the operation and effect of which will be the same, but less variable, it having a fixed connection with the saddle.

Figs. 3 and 4: may be described as stiff c011- nections of the reins with the bit, having a rocking and a sliding motion on the fulcrum H in Fig. 3, and on the rein D in Fig. 4.

Figs. 5 and 6 are substantially the same in effect The driving-reins D are attached to the bit C at their extremity, and in Fig. 5 to a draw-line, a, at a short distance rearward, said line a passing through a bridge-piece, d, on the horses nose, thence to its forward connection with the bit 0.

In Fig. 6 the rein D passes through a loop, f, in the draw-line a, the forward end of which is attached to the upper end of a lever, b, and operates, through said lever and a strap, a, connect-ing its lower end with the bit 0, in like manner to extend the animals nose.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- l. The combination, with a bridle-bit, of a stifi' link or lever, having its fulcrum arranged on the animals nose, for operation in connection with the check-rein E or driving-reins D, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of the draw-line aand bridge-piece d with the reins D and bit 0, all arranged for operation substantially as set forth.

WM. S. MITCHELL.

Witresses:

W. MORRIS SMITH, Co BoRNE BROOKES. 

